A 90-YEAR-OLD ex-swim coach has had to abandon his daily exercise while his gym acts as a classroom – for the first time in 26 years.

Charles Burt, of Westdene Crescent, Caversham Heights, has been a regular user of the Arthur Hill Pool and Fitness Centre in East Reading since 1981.

He uses the gym for 20 minutes and the pool for 20 minutes each morning at 7.20 to help maintain his strength and, as an asthma sufferer, ease his breathing.

But he has been told by Reading Borough Council, which manages the Kings Road gym, that he cannot use the facilities at his normal time throughout the summer because it is using it as a classroom to train staff.

Mr Burt, who has also been a staunch campaigner for the restoration of the outdoor swimming pool in King’s Meadow, said: “I go three times a week to help with my fitness and have been going to this gym for 26 years and this is the first time I have been told I cannot use it.

“The teaching isn’t even starting until 8.30am but they have said they cannot open the gym for the first hour-and-a-half because there are tables in there and it would be breaching health and safety.

“Well I say move the tables.”

Mr Burt, who has been swimming for 83 years, added: “Fitness is a habit.

“If you break that habit, people will find it very difficult to get back into.

“I feel it is wrong to stop the service for the whole of the summer and I worry what effect it will have on my health.”

Mark Suscans, of Liverpool Road, another early bird user who cannot get access to the gym during the closure throughout August, said: “Arthur Hill is the only place in East Reading with a pool and a gym and the only time I can go is in the morning.

“There was no consultation with the members about the closure and the staff have hardly been apologetic.

“I can’t understand why they can’t move the tables so we can use it until 8.30am.

“I am still using the pool but I just think it is appalling that they can close the gym with no word of agreement from members.

“There are no complaint forms to fill in and getting hold of the management is near on impossible.

“I know of a number of disgruntled people who can no longer use the gym at this time and we are all very annoyed about it.”

Oscar Mortali, a spokesman for Reading Borough Council, said: “Teacher training sessions take place at Arthur Hill gym every year in August.

“In the past the gym has been open between 7am and 8am before teacher training sessions began but figures show the gym was used by an average of two people during that slot.

“This was becoming increasingly difficult however, as well as dangerous, as the room was having to be set up for the training sessions at the same time as gym equipment was in use.

“The use of new gym equipment at nearby Palmer Park, a 10 minute walk away, has been extended for this period and we would advise any members to use this alternative gym instead on a temporary basis.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the temporary arrangement.”